I’ve met a number of Bay Area homeowners who are completely flummoxed by basements. It’s not their fault. A lot of people didn’t grow up with them. They’re not common in San Francisco and many surrounding areas, giving them a sort of mythic quality (like snow, or an affordable real estate market).
The upshot of this inexperience is that when people move to communities like Los Altos, where newer homes often come with finished basements, they have no idea what to do with them. These spaces are clearly meant for more than just dusty boxes—and readers of this blog won’t be surprised to learn that we have a few suggestions. Your Los Altos basement, cooler than the rest of your house, is a great place to relax, and with the help of beautiful custom cabinets you can turn the space into a den or family game room. Don’t be afraid of the downstairs. With the right work, it can become the center of your house.
The Family Room
 |
| Enough cabinet space for everyone’s favorite games. |
| Image from Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets. |
One of the hardest parts about family game night is deciding what to play. In the old days, we used to argue about whether to choose Monopoly or Candy Land. Now, of course, there are a lot more options. Do you play board games or video games? If video, which game? From which system? With which remotes?
To keep everyone happy, it’s best to have a plan for every scenario. And that’s where a custom-crafted cabinet comes in. With enough drawers to fit all your board games, plus shelving for your gaming systems and controllers, room for a wall-mounted TV, and even space for cards and chips (if you’re having a more adult get-together), a custom storage unit gives you plenty of options.
It’s not just storage, either: a cabinet designed for your basement can become the centerpiece of the room, dictating the overall feel. Want a modern and sleek look? Consider cabinetry with flat fronts and contrasting color pops. Glossy, colored fronts look great against solid matte finishes or dark wood grains. Want something old-fashioned and homey? Opt for a lighter colored laminate, like a warm Honey Apple. Either way, a custom design helps make the space truly yours.
The Workspace Addition
 |
| With a desk for work, this media center becomes a multifunctional piece. |
| Image from Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets. |
If you live in Los Altos, there’s a decent chance that you can telecommute at least a couple of days a week. That’s why many folks also opt for a workstation in their family room or den. The basement provides a cool and generally quiet place to work during the day.
We can design your shelving and cabinets to serve double-duty as a place for work materials, from binders to coding manuals, and we can also incorporate counter space or a fold-down desk into your wall unit so that you have room for your laptop. If you decide to take a mid-afternoon gaming break… well, we’ll leave that up to you. But having space for a computer, whether for work or just to surf the web, adds versatility to your family room.
A Different Kind of Game Day
If game nights aren’t your thing, consider turning the basement space into a casual spot to entertain, whether that means having friends over to watch football or hosting a get-together for the season finale of Game of Thrones.
 |
| A game-day retreat. |
| Image from Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets. |
If you’re hosting grown-ups, we can help you add a small bar area to your basement, complete with custom cabinetry for glassware, wine bottles, plates, and napkins. We can even design the space to accommodate a mini-fridge if you like having cold drinks close at hand. Some folks also opt for a buffet cabinet. This is a useful spot for setting out chips and dip—and a custom design helps ensure your cabinet works with the flow of the room so that the view of the TV and the route to the bathroom aren’t obstructed when people refill their plates.
A Basement That Fits Your Family
At Valet Custom, we believe your basement isn’t just incidental to your Los Altos home: it’s a key part. And with custom-designed furniture, you can put your personal stamp on the area while expanding your living space. Connect with us today, and our expert team of designers will work with you to create the custom furniture solution that fits your dreams—and your home.
Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets designs, manufactures and installs custom organizational solutions that enhance the functionality of your living space while complementing the décor of your home.
Our talented design team creates unique solutions tailored to your specific needs, style, and budget. We are independently owned and a direct manufacturer.
Our areas of specialty include Home Offices, Wall Beds, Media Centers, Closets, Pantries, Garage Cabinetry, and much more.
Exceptionally Designed & Styled * Expertly Crafted with 5-Star Execution
About Larry Fox, President
Larry is a graduate of the University of Southern California School Of Business. After receiving his degree he returned to the Bay Area and spent 18 years working in his family’s 100+ year old metals recycling business. Upon the sale of that business in 2000, Larry and his wife Audrey purchased Valet. Larry has become a leader in the industry and is a past president of the National Closet Group. Larry loves turning people’s dreams into reality, and remains as enthusiastic about the business today as he was when he first acquired it. View Larry's Houzz Page.
